Insertable circulation starter for well strings



Oct. 4, 1938. I J, E. HALL INSERTBLE CIRCULATION STARTER FOR WELL STRINGS- Filed Aug. 24, 1936 n WE m Patented Oct. 4, 1938 PAT ENT OFFICE INSERTABLE CIRCULATION STARTER FOR WELL STRINGS Jesse E. Hall, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 24, 1936, Serial No. 97,554

13 Claims.

This invention is a means adapted to be inserted at any desired point in a string of 'conduit's, of one or another of the several kinds com- I monly employed in the deep well industry, and

has the principal function of generating pres-- sures of much higher degree than is practical" with the usual circulating and other pumps used for the purpose of iiowing drilling or other liquids in the given string of tubular parts then in the well or drilled hole, the purpose of the high pressure produced by the instant invention being to establish liquid circulation which, for one or another of reasons well known to those skilled in the art, may have been lost and is not practically re-establishable by the divers circulating equipment now in general use in the deep well industry.

Thus, an object of the invention is to provide means whereby to readily establish circulation which may have been choked in or about a long string of casing in a well hole. y

Another object is to provide for the opening of circulation between a drill pipe and a surrounding casing or the natural formation through which the tool is drilling so that the circulating uid may be restored to balance and circulated to the top; that is to break the choking eiect of thick settled mud tending to accumulate at4 the bottom of the hole during cessation of normal -pumping for incidental reasons.

Further an object is to provide a method and means for the making of a safe, speedy and practical squeeze out job in cases where an attempted cement shut-oil? has resulted in a leak back into the casing being set; safe because of the fact that the high pressure necessary to the squeeze out operation is set up immediately at the cemented end of the casing and its upper part protected from injury by this high pressure.

An object is to provide a high pressure generator which can be readily, practically and safely directly incorporated in a well string of tubular parts either in a position at thehead works of the well or hole, or at a position desired yin the lower portion of the string parts in the well hole; that is, this fluid pressure generator is a unit insertable as an element in the drilling, the casing or the tubingstring, as the use may require.

Still another object is to provide pressure generating, circulation starter which is of simple and substantial structure, is ofv low cost, and may be readily installed as aunit, or stored or trans ported as such.

lAnd an obect is to provide for the operation of this starter by its operative connection with (Cl. Z55-27) the usual kelly bar, pump swivel connection and elevator works as a working combination.

The invention consists of certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objects and advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose construction, combination and details of means, and the manner, of operation, and the novel method, will be made manifest in the description of the herewith illustrative embodiment;

it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, principle and spirit of the invention as it is more directly claimed hereinbelow.

Figure 1 is an axial section of the pressuregenerating, starter unit; partly broken away. Figure 2 is an elevation of by-pass control means of the unit. Figure 3 is an elevation of a valve push rod. Figure 4 is an axial section of a nipple connection for rotational coaction of the starter unit and string parts suspended thereby. Figure 5 is an elevational view of the elevator and starter unit combination.

Figure 6 is a diagram of the apparatus in situ for making a squeeze out, cement shut-off.

In its disclosed embodiment the fluid pressure generating unit includes a foot coupling 2 of suitable type to the lower side of which there may be connected that portion of any conduit string S through which itis desired to establish a requisite or high degree of pressure to accomplish the opening or maintaining of liquid circulation, or suchotherv function as the particular job may entail, such, for instance as the breaking of circulation about a lsh, in a fishing job, and through the string of pipe of the shing tool employed. i

Securely attached to theupper end of the coupling 2 is a tubular pillar 3 which forms a standing support for a valve system later described. Fixed on the upper end of the pillar 3 is a suit; able valve cage 4 having an expansion spring 5 normally thrusting an imposed ball valve 6 upward to its ring seat 1 xed in the cage 4 by the` lower end of an upper valve cage 8 screwing into the cage 4.

The lower portion of the valve cage 8 has lateral ports 9 to its exterior and has a set of guide l ngers I0 supporting an axially movable push rod Il whose lower end freely rests on'the lower ball valve 6. 'I'he upper end of the valve 'cage 8 is somewhat enlarged at 8iI and has an internal,

expansion spring I2 normally thrusting upward a ballvalve I3, which is here shown as of considerably larger size than the lower valve 6. The

valve I3 seats upward against a ring seat I4 fixed I5, of about the same diameter as the enlarged y to the upper end of an elongated working barrel instant.

part 8a of the upper cage 8;- the core I5 screwing \into the latter cage at I6.

In the normal function of this apparatus the assembly of parts just above described, from the coupling 2 to the head or core I5, constitutes a standing organization in combination with the attached string S extending therebelow, or other subjoined tool or devices as the job may require.

The upper face of the core I5 is recessed or notched at I'I for cooperation with an adjacent, opposed device forming a part of the working assembly of the unit as will now be set forth. This working assembly includes an upper tool vjoint 20 of any suitable type or other preferred form of connector for attachment to an upper works such as a kelly bar K to the upper end of which is connected the usual hog pump line L and its swivel joint J, this being hung by bail B to the elevator hook H, thus providing for vertical reciprocation of the kelly and' subjoined apparatus while the hose line communicates with a.

2I in which there is also screwed the crown 22 of a tubular ram 23 which slidably ts in the bore of the hollow core I5 and whose lower end 24 closely approaches the closed valve I3 when the ram is in its lower position, as shown in Fig. l, at the end of a down or suction stroke of the working barrel 2|.

The ram 23 is provided for the purpose of occasionally forcibly opening the lower valve 6 against high pressure therebelow to by-pass the liquid upward around the valve I3 while this is held open by the ram tube 23, and still provide for the normal working stroke of the barrel without opening the by-passing valves at the same With this in view the crown 22 of the ram 23 has it: lower face provided with strike blocks or teeth 24 complementary-to the opposed notched face II of the upper end of the core I5.

In normal stroke of the Working barrel as to the standing core I5 the strike blocks 24 will approach or perhaps contact the rim of the core without the toe of the ram 23 engaging the valve I3, but if it is desired to ram the valves 6-I3 open to by-pass the pressure it is necessary to turn the barrel 2l and bring the blocks 24 into register with the notches I1 of the core and thus permit added down stroke of the barrel and the ram 23 to repress the valve I3 to engage the rod II and by this press the valve 6 from its seat 1.

The barrel 2l has a working t on the core I5 and on the enlarged part 8a of the cage of the upper valve I3 and there is so formed an annular space 25 to which the lateral ports 9 lead from the cage 8; this space continuing clown to and being closed by the upper end of a cylindrical, working shoe 26 the upper end of which screws at 21 into the foot of the barrel 2|. The shoe 2li has a working fit on the elongated pillar 3 Vof the standing assembly. Fluid seal of the relative sliding surfaces of the unit may be had bye. polished t of the parts or by packing, as desired, or both. i ,f

In order to provide for the rotation of the parts of apparatus subjoined to the foot coupling 2 in cases where it is deemed required an elongated nipple 28 is screwed onto the coupling 2 and freely slidably receives the working shoe 26; the lower end of the nipple having vent ports 29 for surging liquid as the shoe reciprocates in the nipple. Relief ports 30 are provided for a like purpose in the head of the barrel at about the location of the head notches Il.

The nipple 28, Fig. 4, is keyed for reciprocation on the shoe 26 as by a key 3l in the latter engaging in a keyway 32 in the bore surface of the nipple so that rotation of the working barrel 2| by means of the kelly K or otherwise will also rotate the string S and the standing assembly pillar 3 and its attached valve set.

The lower portion of the keyway 32 has a lateral oset 33 into which the key 3l of the shoe 26 may be turned when it is`desired to turn the strike blocks 24 into register with and for movement into the notches Il to ram the valves 6-I3 open for bypass from below the lower valve 6.

The space 25 below the standing valve cage 4 in the barrel 2l constitutes an enlarging suction chamber as the working shoe 26 slides down on the standing pillar 3 and since vthe valve 6 is4 pressed up to its seat by the spring 5 it will be seen that the vacuum established in the chamber 25 causes the upper valve to be drawn from its seat I4 if, indeed, it is not forced therefrom by pump pressure on uid in the hose line L. On the return or up stroke of the Working barrel 2l and its shoe 26 the liquid trapped in the cham-v From the above it will be seen that any desired degree of pressure may be built up in the string S below the smaller valve 6 until free circulation is re-established in the well if it is practically pos- `sible without destruction of the particular apparatus employed.

Fig. 6 illustrates a method for making a squeeze o'utcement shut-off in an instance where the rst cement plug C proves to be a failure and allows a formation leak back into the cemented casing A. By the instant invention a suitable casing packer P is lowered to thebottom of the casing C by the unit foot coupling 2 and its associated unit assembly above set forth so that this pressure generating unit 4is located immedi.

ately at the cemented bottom of the casing A. The packer P is set in the casing and green cement is pumped down the string to the unit and discharged below the packer. The fluid pressure in the unit is now built up to a very high degree or until it is shown that the green cement is being squeezed out into the crevices in the rst plug and to the formation and the leaks thus choked oi. At no time will the casing' above the packer be subjected to the high, squeeze out pressure set up below the packer; the casing being therefore preserved.

If it be desiredv to effect an upward jarring reaction between elements of a String of tool parts with which the present circulation start' er is employed it is only necessary to runy the working shoe upward until its upper end face 26 abuts the lower` end surface of the lower valve cage 4. And this engagement of the stand- It is possible to invert the unit and attach a packer to its lower end and then operate the then upper valve assembly and pillar to. take a sample of formation from below the set packer by pulling the unit while the valves are closed with the entrapped sample.

It will be seen that in cases where fluid under pressure is supplied to the chamber 25 it exerts an available down pressure or force on the end 26a of the shoe since this is of larger area than the opposed area of the inner end of the ram tube 23; this excess pressure aiding in the v downward movement of the barrel assembly and the inductive elongation of the suction chamber.

What is claimed is:

1. A deep well circulation starter including a standing assembly having means for attachment of a subjacent instrument and including upwardly spring-closed valves, a cage device in which the valves are operative and having a lateral outlet therebetween and a hollow pillar on which said device is xed, and a working assembly including a barrel sliding on said device and having a shoe sliding on the pillar and forming below said device a suction and discharge chamber communicating with said outlet; one of said valves operative on down stroke of thebarrel 'o admit iluid to the chamber and to close on the up stroke of the`barrel, and the other valve operative on the up stroke of the barrel to pass iiuid displaced from the chamber to the hollow pillar to establish circulation; the upper valve being of greater flow capacity than the lower.`

2. A starter as set forth in claim 1, and including means for concurrently opening the valves to by-pass iluid pressure from below the lower valve. i

3. A fluid circulation starter including a lower standing assembly having means for attachment of a subjacent instrument in which pressure is to be established, and an upper working v assembly forming with the lower assembly a suction and displacement chamber, a set of vertically spaced, yieldingly closed differential valves included in the standing assembly, and means providing for communication from the space between the valves to and from said chamber; one of said valves forming an intake and opening on down stroke of the working assembly to admit fluid therefrom to said chamber, and the other valve forming an exhaust larger than the intake and operating on the up stroke of the working assemblyv to pass uid to the standing assembly and parts therebelow; the working assembly being connective to a source of supply.

4. A starter as set forth ln claim 3, and including means operative by the working assembly for opening both valves at once to eiTect a uid by-pass from the high pressure side.

^ 5. In apparatus of the class described; a hollow .pillar through which pressure iluid is to be circulated, a valve cage device on said pillar having lateral ow ports, a spring closed valve insaid cage below said ports to close ilow up from said pillar, and an upper valve to admit uid to the cage and being spring closed to stop upward ow, and a working barrel slidably fitting said cage device and said pillar and forming therebetween a suction ind displacement vchamber with which said ports'communicate; said barrel having means for attachment to a source of uid said pillar having a hollow core iixed above the upper valve and forming a uid chamber of less volume than the said displacement chamber;

.whereby as the barrel is moved downward fluid is drawn into the displacement chamber without setting up a detrimental back pressure in the said means when connected to a source of supply.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, and in which said means consists of a reciprocative ele- .vator apparatus whereby the working barrel may be actuated to establish circulation pressure onthe up stroke of the barrel and including a.v

vcirculation is to be established by discharge of fluid from said chamber on the up stroke of the working barrel assembly and an iniiow chamber of smaller capacity than, and for liquid supply .to, the displacement chamber without detrimental back pressure in the said connective assembly. Y

8. A circulation starter including a Working barrel assembly attachable to a fluid supplying actuator, a standing valve assembly forming withthe working barrel assembly a suction and high pressure discharge chamber and being attachable to a conduit through which ow is to be set up and having a dual Valve cage opening to said chamber, and means for connecting the b arrel assembly to the valve assembly for concurrent rotation and a supply conduit of less volume capacity than said chamber and whereby a suction tendency is set up as the opening motion of the barrel tends to set up a vacuum by drawing its supply from said conduit.

9. A starter as set forth in claim 8, and in which said valve assembly includes a set of spring closed valves, said assemblies being relatively rotative, and means providing for concurrently opening the valves and including a ram carried bythe barrel to engage one valve and move it from its seat, and a device engaged b y the Amoved valve to depress the other valve from itsA seat.

10. A circulation starter including a set of spaced, spring-closed valves, a standing support therefor, a barrel working on said support and forming a suction chamber below the valves in communication with the space between the valves, a ram connected with the barrel to move against one of said valves, and push means between the valves; whereby when said ram acts on the adjacent valve it will eiect the opening of the other valve at the same time to establish a uid by-pass.

11. A starter as set forth in claim 10, and including means prohibiting such ram action ex-` cept at a given angular position of the barrel as ling uid ow from the said ram to the said chamber; thelupper end of 'said shoe presenting a larger effective area to pressure in said chamber than the cross' area of the inner end of the said ram in the core.

13. A circulation starter including a valve assembly'and a relatively movable barrel assembly,

core and having a part telescoping therein and presenting a cross area of less size than the end area of the said shoe in said chamber; whereby unbalanced fluid pressure on the shoe is available to actuate the barrel in one direction.

JESSE E. HALL. 

